Electric-light installation for alternating current



May 26, 1925. 1,539,672

cs. HOLST I ELECTRIC LIGHT INSTALLATION FOR ALTERNATING CURRENT Filed Sept. 29, 1920 I o r JIM/645m" gtzd gva j /jlorwys Patented May 26, 1925.

GILLES HOLS'I, OF EIND HOVEN, NETHERLANDS, SCHAP PHILIPS GLOEII AMPENFABRIEKEN.

ASSIGNOR To NAAMLOOZE vmmooror smnnovnu, unrnnnmnns; a

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OF THE NETHERLANDS.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT INSTALLATION FOR ALTERNATING CURRENT.

Application filed September 29, 1920. Serial No. 413,468.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILLES Hons'r, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at Eindhoven, in the Province of N orth- Brabant, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Electric-Light Installation for Alternating Current, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an electric light installation for alternating current and more particularly relates to the running of electric incandescent lamps, arc-lamps, glow-discharge lamps, gasor vapor-lamps on alternating current circuits of a volta e higher than that of the lamps through the intermediary of condensers.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in such arrangements.

W e wish it to be understood that by the expression electric lamps used in the following description and in the claims are meant as well electric incandescent lamps as arclamps, glow-discharge lamps, gas-lamps, vapor-lamps and discharge tubes. 1

The simplest method for connecting electric lamps consists in connecting the lamp directly to the lighting mains. Notwithstanding, when using incandescent lamps, the use of lamps intended for voltages which are considerably lower than the usual voltage of lighting circuits is more advantageous. Incandescent lamps for low voltage generally have a higher efiiciency, whilst in consequence of the greater thickness of the filament they are much stronger and can more easily be handled than lamps for high voltage. Thus, for example, it is nearly impossible to make a one candle-power lamp for 220 volts, whereas the manufacture of one candle-power lamps for 10 volts, with its thicker incandescent filament gives no special difficulties.

In order to make it possible nevertheless to use such lamps for low voltage, transformers have already been used, with which the voltage of the lighting circuit is transformed into the desired lower voltage.

Besides these incandescent lamps for lower voltage, there is a second group of lam s, which cannot be directly connected with t e lighting mains. To this class belong arclamps, glow-discharge lamps, gasor vaporlamps, etc. in which a part of the circuit is formed by a conductive gas or vapor. With these lamps it is necessary to limit the current, for which purpose generally resistance or choking coils are utilized.

According to the present invention it becomes-possible to connect directly with the alternating current lighting mains as well as incandescent lamps for a low voltage as gasor vapor-lamps.

The invention provides an electric light installation comprising in combination an electric lamp and a condenser adapted for limiting the amperage through a given lamp and forming a single member with the lamp. The advantages of the installation are, among others,the following: The condenser causes practically no loss of energy. In us-. ing lamps for small currents the condensers when manufactured in compact form will. have very small proportions, whilst otherwise a big resistance or induction-coil would be necessary. The condensers can be cheaply manufactured.

When applying the invention to low-discharge lamps thcre is another advantage. With these lamps it is necessary to put in circuit a stabilizing device. Hitherto a stabilizing resistanc was used causing an appreciable loss of energy. By substituting the current limiting resistance by a condenser no extra stabilizing device is necessary and the efiiciency of the lamp is considerably im roved.

When app ying the invention to incandescent lamps it is possible to construct a lamp in which an incandescent filament is provided capable of being directly connected to the alternating current circuit, whereas a part of said filament or another incandescent filament in the same nccted to the circuit with intermediary of a 1condenser forming a single member with the amp.

The accompanying drawings show the connections for a lighting installation accordin to this invention, as well as several embodiments of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sections of examples of incandescent lamps according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a similar section of a glow discharge lamp.

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrams which show the connections of incandescent lamps calamp may be conpable of tensity.

Fig. 1 shows an incandescent lamp with Edison-fitting, the condenser :being provided in the base of the lamp. Fi 2 shows an incandescent lamp with Swantting, the condenser beingsarranged in the same mandifierent illuminating inner. Fig. 3 is a glow-discharge lamp withcondenser accordmgto the invention. In all three cases 1 is the lam bulb, 2 the lamp-base, whilst 4 is the con enser forming le member with the lam In F1 a sing 1 and 2 the filament is indica't at 3, wh1 st in Fig. 3 the number it relates to the electrodes. Y

It will be ap arent to persons skilled in the art that other modifications of the invention are possible; the condenser may also be provided in the stem of an incandescent lamp or may be provided on the lamp in any suitable way.

In Fig. 4 the filament be forms a part of I the filament 01). The condenser 4 forming a single member with the lamp is connected in series with the filament be, so that the filament with condenser maybe directly connected to the same alternating current circuit as the filament ab without giving rise avoided.

Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the same inventive idea. According to this construction there are two se arate filaments provided in the lamp, t e filament ab for normal candle power, the filament b'c for small candle power. By a switch 8 filament ab ma be directly connected to the circuit or by e same switch S one may assume I connect the filament b'c with the condenser series of metallic loops, eac

directly to the circuit.

With my invention, therefore, it is possible to have a high voltage system and a with a lamp of low volta e in series with the loop, inasmuch as t e individual condenser restricts the flow of current in the loop to the maximum amount which a lamp can safely carry. Therefore, each lam ofi without serious y a ecting any other lamp in the s stem. Such would not be the case, where, or example, a large condenser were madecommon to a number of lamps, such an arrangement with a common condenser would be in the nature of a constant current arran ement. And turning off a number of the amps indiscriminately would cause the remainmg lamps to burn out. With the arrangement herein disclosed any ma be turned on or v number of lamps may be turned on or ofi with impunity. 1

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric lamp having a filament and base with terminals thereon, a condenser in the base, the lamp filament and the condenser being electrically connected to the .same' terminals in the base whereby the flow of current from the source of ower is limited by the capacity of the con enser, said lamp and condenser forming a unit structure- I 2. An electric lamp having a filament and 'base with terminals thereon, a condenser in the base, the lamp filament and the condenser being electrically connected in series to the same terminals in the base whereby the flow of current from the source of power is limited by the capacity of the condenser, said lamp and condenser forming a unit structure.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

GILLES HOLST. 1; 5. 

